Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing the petition Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed asking for instructions to the Centre to designate Ram Setu as a national heritage monument.
Dr. Swamy brought up the topic of Ram Setu being designated as a National Heritage monument in his 2007 lawsuit against the Sethusamudram Ship Channel project for Ram Setu’s protection. The Sethusamudram project called for massive dredging and removal of the limestone shoals that make up the mythical Sethu in order to create an 83-km-long deep water canal connecting Mannar with Palk Strait.
Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna were on a panel that highlighted that the executive had the authority to decide whether to designate a site national historic designation. But Dr. Swamy informed the Bench that the Central Government has been dragging its feet under the guise that the Supreme Court is in charge of the case. The Bench explained that as it had only recently been given the case, it will take some time to review the extensive paperwork.
Dr. Swamy requested permission from the court to ask the Central Government to file a rebuttal affidavit and take a position during the interim. He further stated that the Centre should make it known if they are opposed to his petition.
Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General, stated that he will analyse the materials and respond in this regard. Dr. Swamy argued that it should be made sure that the case is not removed from the Registry’s causelist as the Bench adjourned it. On a lighter side, the Bench observed that Dr. Swamy is knowledgeable about the specifics of the Apex Court’s operation, particularly the problem with the Registry’s deletion of cases.
